Oldham Athletic FC join the battle against prostate cancer

Oldham Athletic Football Club has teamed up with Prostate Cancer UK to help raise awareness of the most common cancer in men.

In a ground-breaking partnership for the club, Latics are to carry the charity's logo on the back of their shirts for the whole of the campaign beginning with the home npower League One match against Notts County on Saturday, September 15th.

Staff and players at Boundary Park have pledged to raise awareness of prostate cancer by supporting a number of initiatives.

From the moustache-growing month of 'Movember' to a dedicated week of support in March, funds raised by Latics and other Football League clubs will help more men survive prostate cancer and enjoy a better quality of life.

It is a cause which is special to everyone at Latics after club director Barry Owen was last year diagnosed with the disease.

Mr Owen, 65, who lost his father to prostate cancer, was diagnosed without any symptoms following a regular check-up. He chose surgery to treat the disease, following conversations with one of Prostate Cancer UK's specialist helpline nurses and currently attends regular appointments with his consultant to monitor his condition.

He said: "Having experienced prostate cancer first hand, I know only too well how important it is to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your health. The sooner these conversations happen, the sooner any potential problems can be spotted.

"Prostate Cancer UK's partnership with The Football League is a brilliant way of raising awareness of prostate cancer amongst a largely male crowd, which is why Latics didn't hesitate in getting behind the initiative. We will be trying our very best to get the message out to encourage men to think about prostate cancer."

Oldham Athletic Sales and Marketing Executive David Broadbent said: "Prostate Cancer UK is a charity very close to the club's heart. As a club, we are delighted to link up with Prostate Cancer UK in this way by using the back of all first team kits to raise awareness of prostate cancer amongst men."

Mark Bishop, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "We're delighted that Oldham Athletic is getting behind our partnership with The Football League to raise awareness of prostate cancer - the most common cancer in men in the UK.

"We are also very grateful to Barry Owen for speaking out about his own experience of the disease in a bid to break down some of taboos that still exist.

"We hope every Latics' fan who comes through the turnstiles at Boundary Park this season will get behind the club to help them raise as much as possible, so that Prostate Cancer UK can continue to support the 250,000 men living with prostate cancer."